Does Michigan set its own trucking insurance minimums?

Michigan's published pages do not confirm a standalone intrastate minimum for every case. Where the state publishes no figure, this page says so instead of guessing, and the note beside each field explains what the state does require.

Do federal insurance minimums still apply to a Michigan carrier?

Interstate operations file proof of coverage with FMCSA under 49 CFR Part 387 no matter which state the carrier is based in. The state rules on this page govern intrastate-only operations; the federal table shows the levels an interstate filing must meet.

What insurance does a new Michigan carrier line up first?

Primary liability comes first: the state and federal filings both ride on an active liability policy. Cargo coverage follows where the state or your shippers require it, and physical damage on the truck is a lender requirement rather than a state rule.

Where do these figures come from?

Every dollar amount renders from the state agency publication or statute cited beside it, or from the federal regulation for the contrast table. When an agency publishes no figure, the field reads "Not confirmed" with a note on what the agency does say.

Michigan Trucking Insurance Requirements (2026)

By Evan Reid, Founder of Haul Handbook · Updated Jul 29, 2026

What Michigan requires

These are the state-level rules attached to Michigan intrastate operating authority. A field reading "Not confirmed" means the agency publishes no figure; the note explains what the agency does say.

Liability minimum: $750,000 (Michigan does not publish a separate intrastate dollar figure. It adopts the federal minimums instead. MCL 480.11a(1)(b) adopts 49 CFR part 387 among the federal motor carrier safety regulations, and MCL 480.11a(1)(b)(ii) directs that where the federal text says interstate it means intrastate or interstate, or both, as applicable. The federal part 387 general-freight minimum of $750,000 therefore governs Michigan intrastate for-hire property carriage, with the higher part 387 hazardous-materials tiers applying by commodity. MCL 480.11a(3) carves out a vehicle that is not a commercial motor vehicle as defined in 49 CFR 383.5 and is operated in intrastate commerce, which stays subject to 49 CFR parts 391 through 393 but not to the part 387 adoption.)
Cargo minimum: Two different answers, and an earlier pass recorded only the missing half. GENERAL FREIGHT: Michigan sets no intrastate cargo minimum, so cargo_usd stays blank as a sourced negative. HOUSEHOLD GOODS: the figure is not missing after all. MSP/CVED requires a Form H and publishes no amount itself, but MCL 480.11a(1)(b) adopts 49 CFR part 387 into Michigan law, and 49 CFR 387.303(c) sets household goods cargo liability at $5,000 for loss or damage on any one motor vehicle and $10,000 for an aggregate of losses at any one time and place. Both were read verbatim at eCFR on 2026-07-30, and MCL 480.11a(1)(b) was re-read at legislature.mi.gov the same day to confirm part 387 is inside the adoption list. So a Michigan household goods mover files Form H against those adopted federal limits; the earlier note treated this as an unclosable gap needing a phone call to MSP-CVED-RCS, which it was not.
Differs from federal: No

Who files the proof of insurance

Your insurance company makes these filings with the state, not you. Ask for them by form name when you bind coverage.

Liability proof: Form E
Household goods cargo: Form H

The carrier does not file proof of insurance itself. The insurance company files the Form E with MSP/CVED, plus a Form H for a household goods carrier. The applicant separately supplies a Certificate of Liability. Proof of workers' compensation insurance, or an approved exclusion form from the Workers' Compensation Agency, is a distinct approval requirement, and MCL 479.9(2) requires a motor carrier to demonstrate compliance with the Worker's Disability Compensation Act on initial application and again whenever the department asks after a lapse.

The federal minimums, for contrast

Cross a state line for hire and the federal financial-responsibility levels take over, filed with FMCSA by your insurer. The amounts below render from 49 CFR Part 387 (property carriers 387.303, brokers and freight forwarders 387.307, endorsements 387.15), as displayed on FMCSA's insurance filing requirements page; the filing mechanics live in our BMC-91 and BMC-34 insurance filings guide.

Federal minimum public liability levels by operation (49 CFR Part 387)
Operation	Vehicle	Liability minimum
For-hire property carrier, non-hazardous	GVWR under 10,001 lb	$300,000
For-hire property carrier, non-hazardous (general freight)	GVWR 10,001 lb or more	$750,000
For-hire carrier of certain hazardous materials	Any	$1,000,000
For-hire and private carriers of explosives, poison gas, or radioactive materials	Any	$5,000,000
For-hire carrier of household goods	GVWR 10,001 lb or more	$750,000
For-hire carrier of passengers	15 or fewer passengers	$1,500,000
For-hire carrier of passengers	16 or more passengers	$5,000,000
Broker of property or household goods	None	None
Freight forwarder of property	None	None
Freight forwarder of household goods	None	None

Scroll sideways to see every column.

Where insurance fits in the Michigan launch

Coverage sits early in the sequence: the federal filing sequence needs your insurer's proof of coverage on file before authority activates, and the state rules above attach to the credential covered on the Michigan intrastate authority page. For the full order of operations, work through start a trucking company in Michigan.

Frequently asked questions

Does Michigan set its own trucking insurance minimums?: Michigan's published pages do not confirm a standalone intrastate minimum for every case. Where the state publishes no figure, this page says so instead of guessing, and the note beside each field explains what the state does require.
Do federal insurance minimums still apply to a Michigan carrier?: Interstate operations file proof of coverage with FMCSA under 49 CFR Part 387 no matter which state the carrier is based in. The state rules on this page govern intrastate-only operations; the federal table shows the levels an interstate filing must meet.
What insurance does a new Michigan carrier line up first?: Primary liability comes first: the state and federal filings both ride on an active liability policy. Cargo coverage follows where the state or your shippers require it, and physical damage on the truck is a lender requirement rather than a state rule.
Where do these figures come from?: Every dollar amount renders from the state agency publication or statute cited beside it, or from the federal regulation for the contrast table. When an agency publishes no figure, the field reads "Not confirmed" with a note on what the agency does say.

Haul Handbook publishes educational information about trucking registration and compliance requirements. This is not legal, financial, or tax advice. Rules, fees, and deadlines change; confirm with the agency before you file or pay.